Crafting the Perfect All-British and Irish Cheese Charcuterie Board for Christmas

When the festive season arrives, few centrepieces feel as inviting as a beautifully arranged cheese and charcuterie board. 

This year, why not celebrate Christmas with a twist by building a board entirely sourced from the British Isles? 

From rich English cheddars to creamy Irish blues and artisan charcuterie cured in small UK smokehouses, a locally focused platter feels both luxurious and meaningful.

Whether you’re hosting a quiet evening in or laying out a Boxing Day feast, an all-British and Irish board brings the flavours of home straight to the table.

Why Choose British and Irish Cheese for Christmas?

The UK and Ireland have undergone a quiet cheese revolution over the last two decades. Today, more than 700 varieties are produced regionally, many of them award-winners. Choosing local brings some lovely benefits:

Fresher, higher-quality produce with shorter supply chains

Support for small farms and dairies, especially those using traditional methods

Distinct regional character, from Somerset to County Cork

A sustainable choice, thanks to reduced transport miles

Plus, British and Irish cheesemakers know how to make a festive statement. Christmas is prime season for bold flavours, mature cheddars, indulgent soft cheeses and decadent blues.

Essential Cheeses for a British & Irish Christmas Board

Mixing textures and strengths is the secret to a perfect platter. Aim for 4–6 varieties.

1. Mature Cheddar (England)

A robust, crumbly cheddar is a must.

Try: Montgomery’s, Keen’s or Black Bomber.

2. Stilton (England)

Classic Christmas cheese: tangy, creamy and rich.

Try: Colston Bassett for a traditional festive blue.

3. Soft Mould-Ripened Cheese (England or Ireland)

Think of these as your UK-Irish equivalent of Brie or Camembert.

Try: Tunworth (Hampshire), Baron Bigod (Suffolk), or Gubbeen (Ireland).

4. Goat’s Cheese (Wales or England)

Fresh, tangy and a lovely palate cleanser.

Try: Kidderton Ash, Rachel Goat’s Cheese, or Pantysgawn.

5. Irish Blue or Washed Rind (Ireland)

Bring some depth with an Irish blue or a bold washed rind variety.

Try: Cashel Blue, Crozier Blue or Milleens.

6. Smoked or Flavoured Cheese (Scotland)

For a little drama.

Try: Smoked Applewood or Isle of Mull Cheddar.

British & Irish Charcuterie That Elevates Your Board

Our islands produce exceptional cured meats that pair beautifully with local cheese.

Air-dried beef: Bresaola-style cuts from Scottish smokehouses

British salami: Try varieties infused with fennel, chilli or cider

Smoked ham: Wiltshire cured ham adds a classic festive note

Irish charcuterie: Look for charcuterie from small producers in Cork and Galway

If you want something truly seasonal, many artisan producers release Christmas-spiced salamis, whisky-smoked meats, or limited-edition hams at this time of year.

Seasonal Accompaniments for a Festive Finish

Make your board look abundant and Christmassy with well-chosen additions.

Crackers & Bread

Scottish oatcakes

Seeded sourdough crackers

Irish wheaten bread

Chutneys & Relishes

Caramelised onion chutney

Fig and port chutney

Spiced apple and cranberry relish

Fruit & Nuts

Red grapes

Figs, fresh or dried

Pear slices

Walnuts and roasted hazelnuts

Extras for Christmas Flair

Honeycomb pieces

Rosemary sprigs

Edible gold-dust grapes

Festive-shaped cheese cutters (stars always win!)

How to Arrange Your Board Beautifully

Start with your largest cheeses and place them evenly across the board.

Add charcuterie in gentle folds for volume.

Fill gaps with fruit, nuts, and small bowls of chutney.

Use contrasting colours (deep blue veined cheese next to pale crackers).

Aim for a look that’s full but not overcrowded.

Rustic wooden boards feel the most festive, but slate or marble works beautifully for a crisp, modern style.

Drinks Pairing: Keep It British & Irish

Sparkling wine: English sparkling wine from Kent or Sussex

Red wine: Welsh pinot noir or a smooth Irish red

Cider: A dry Herefordshire or Somerset cider, or a Irish farmhouse cider

Beer: Winter ales or a dark stout

Non-alcoholic: Spiced apple punch or ruby pear juice

Final Thoughts

An all-British and Irish cheese and charcuterie board isn’t just delicious—it’s a celebration of the incredible craftsmanship and heritage of our local producers. 

Whether it sits proudly on your Christmas Eve nibble table or appears as the centrepiece of your Boxing Day buffet, it brings warmth, generosity and festive cheer to every gathering.

You should be able to purchase the above items from delicatessens, farm shops or high status food shops. 

You can also use the That's Christmas 365 online shop, too: https://amzn.to/3KB3IAs

Perfect Christmastime Vegan Charcuterie Board with Squeaky Bean Pastrami Roses:

What you will need:-

●  4 x packs Squeaky Bean Pastrami Style Slices

●  One round of vegan cheese (we used Palace Culture Kimcheeze)

●  Humous (shop bought or home made)

●       One bulb of garlic

●       Olive oil

●       Pomegranate seeds

●       Chickpeas

●       Yellow or red tomatoes on the vine

●       Yellow and red pepper

●       Carrots (Chantenay or baby carrots work well)

●       Olives (we used unearthed Chilli Olives)

●       Crackers of your choice

●       Salt and pepper

Method:

●      Wash the carrots, peppers and tomatoes. Slice the carrots (or use whole Chantenay or baby carrots) and peppers.

●      Preheat the oven to 200c.  Cut the top off the bulb of garlic to expose the cloves inside the skin. Place in a roasting tin, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 40 minutes or until the cloves are soft and golden.

●      Drain a tin or jar of chickpeas. Pat them dry with kitchen towel, ensuring they’re fully dry. Toss with olive oil and season with salt. Place the chickpeas in a thin layer in a roasting tin and add to the oven for 20 to 30 minutes until crispy. Season with spices of your choice (paprika works well).

●      Prepare the pomegranate seeds

●      Remove the Squeaky Bean Pastrami Style Slices from the pack and roll the slices into rose shaped swirls.

●      Using a charcuterie board, assemble all the ingredients, including the roasted chickpeas and garlic, onto the board to display.

●       Top with the Pastrami roses as the centrepiece.

●       Serve with crackers of your choice. 

You can find Squeaky Bean products at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado and Asda.

https://www.squeakybean.co.uk

More News on Vegan Christmas Delights. This Time From Squeaky Bean

Vegan Charcuterie Board with Squeaky Bean Pastrami Roses:

4 x packs Squeaky Bean Pastrami Style Slices

One round of vegan cheese (try Palace Culture Kimcheeze)

Humous (shop bought or home made)

One bulb of garlic

Olive oil

Pomegranate seeds

Chickpeas

Yellow or red tomatoes on the vine

Yellow and red pepper

Carrots (Chantenay or baby carrots work well)

Olives (unearthed Chilli Olives)

Crackers of your choice

Salt and pepper

Method:

Wash the carrots, peppers and tomatoes. Slice the carrots (or use whole Chantenay or baby carrots) and peppers. 

Preheat the oven to 200c.  Cut the top off the bulb of garlic to expose the cloves inside the skin. Place in a roasting tin, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 40 minutes or until the cloves are soft and golden.

Drain a tin or jar of chickpeas. Pat them dry with kitchen towel, ensuring they’re fully dry. Toss with olive oil and season with salt. Place the chickpeas in a thin layer in a roasting tin and add to the oven for 20 to 30 minutes until crispy. Season with spices of your choice (paprika works well). 

Prepare the pomegranate seeds 

Remove the Squeaky Bean Pastrami Style Slices from the pack and roll the slices into rose shaped swirls. 

Using a charcuterie board, assemble all the ingredients, including the roasted chickpeas and garlic, onto the board to display.

Top with the Pastrami roses as the centrepiece. 

Serve with crackers of your choice. 

Vegan Style Beetroot and Salmon Style Flakes with Labneh:

Ingredients:

Plant-based salmon flakes (Squeaky Bean Salmon Style Flakes, obviously!)

Cooked Beetroot (three whole fresh cooked beetroots, or one pack of supermarket bought beetroot, without vinegar if possible)

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

250g Vegan Greek Style Yogurt (Plain)

One Fresh Unwaxed Lemon (Zested & Juiced)

Salt

Pepper

Chilli Flakes

To garnish (optional):

Pomgranate seeds

Pine nuts

Rocket leaves

Fresh dill

Method:

Make the vegan labneh by adding 250g Greek style vegan yogurt to a bowl. Then add the juice of half a lemon and stir.

Then add lemon zest, salt and pepper to taste.

To assemble the platter, thinly slice the beetroot using a knife or mandolin and then place onto a plate or board.

Dress the beetroot slices with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and chilli flakes.

Top with the labneh and vegan salmon flakes. 

Garnish with pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, rocket leaves and dill.

We at That's Christmas 365/That's Food and Drink suggest you keep a good selection of Squeaky Bean products in your fridge, especially over the Christmas period. For example, our Vicar is vegan and he might call in over Christmas!

Charcuterie trees to baked Cambozola how to throw the perfect Christmas party with Asda

It's officially Christmas party season! Asda shoppers can enjoy the full festive season with unmissable offers on a delicious selection of grazing and party food - tis' the time to be merry after all.

Grazing dishes are perfect for those who want to curate a plate and get creative with their presentation. This year, influencers are crafting charcuterie trees, chalets and wreaths from a selection of snacks, with the hashtag #charcuterietree gaining 27million views on TikTok.

Asda is encouraging their shoppers to get creative this year, with the Build Your Own Festive Antipasti Board. For just £5, shoppers can enjoy a selection of cheeses and salamis, sweet cranberries, apricots and semi-dried tomatoes. The board comes with instructions on how to build your Christmas tree, so shoppers can impress as the host with the most.

Asda’s Build Your Own Festive Grazing Cones (£6) pack includes a selection of pitted green olives and pepper drops, Iberico cheese, semi-dried tomatoes, air-dried meats and baked breadsticks – plus shoppers can turn the box into a cone stand to create a display centrepiece!

The Mezze Grazing Selection (£4) features a Provolone Piccante cheese, amongst a mouth-watering selection of meats. Racking up five-star reviews on Asda.com, the Party Snack Platter (£5) brings the heat with a selection of spicy cheddar cheeses and is a “great snack to have at a party” according to one delighted customer.

With a sweet and delicate prosciutto, rich and garlicky salami and smoky chorizo, the Continental Sharing Selection (£2.95) is perfect for the meat-lovers, whilst the German Style Salami & Cheese Selection (£2.95) features a Beechwood smoked cheese - for a continental taste of Christmas (think Christmas markets!).

Get this party started! The buffet is open...

Mini foods have been trending in recent years, and the novelty hasn't worn off when it comes to miniaturising party favourites.

Asda’s Mini ‘Mac’ Burgers (£5) with cheddar cheese and diced gherkins are served in mini brioche buns and finished with their own take on the famous burger sauce. Serve alongside Mini Hot Dogs (£5), for the ultimate selection of finger food. Sure to make any party less messy, the Mini Cheese & Pepperoni Parcels (£3.50) are packed with delicious mozzarella cheese, diced pepperoni and tomatoes. Rounding up the selection of minis, the vibrant Oriental Money Bags (£2) are filled with 3 different flavours - tangy hoisin mushroom, sweet and sour shredded vegetables and soy and chilli jackfruit.

Add a touch of nostalgia with the Extra Special Lobster and King Prawn Vol Au Vent Selection. Partygoers can choose from Canadian lobster in a rich thermidor sauce, or king prawns in a creamy beurre blanc sauce - both of which are encased in crisp puff pastry.

Guaranteed to be a talking point at any buffet, the Extra Special Brown Butter & Spiced Dark Rum Stuffing Wreath with Brûléed Pigs in Blankets is an eye-catching pork stuffing wreath, made using only British prime pork cuts. Infused with this year’s signature flavour, this stuffing wreath contains notes of rich brown butter and spiced dark rum and has been hand-decorated with their Extra Special Pigs in Blankets.

Make your party extra special with Asda’s specialty cheeses. It is Christmas after all!

A classic cheeseboard is a must-have at any festive gathering. The Extra Special Cheeseboard (£12) is served on a proper slate board with a tasting card and a wine pairing suggestion from Asda’s wine expert for each of the cheeses. Four new cheeses; Vintage Cheddar, Leicester Gold, 16-month Iberico Reserva and a French Mon P’tit Creamy Brie, join last year's favourite; the Vintage Red Fox.

Bring some festive theatre with the Baking Cambozola with Cranberry Glaze. A first-to-market product, it combines a mild creamy blue cheese with a sweet cranberry glaze, made by a top award-winning glaze maker.

Recent stats have revealed cheddar is the UK’s favourite cheese, so customers are set to love the Extra Special Wyke Farms Vintage Cheddar Bake with Caramelised Onion Chutney (£12). Rich and indulgent and topped with a caramelised onion chutney, party hosts can keep this cheese hot and oozing at the table, as it comes with a stand and candle.

Adding a touch of sweet, the Extra Special Camembert & Cranberry Savoury Profiteroles (£5.50) are indulgently filled with a creamy camembert sauce, and topped with a cranberry, cheddar and parsely crumb for a sweet and crunchy finish.

Fill the freezer now!

Pick and mix all your favourites with Asda’s much-loved multibuy offer on frozen products. Fill the freezer, then the table, and let the party begin! Ending on 2 January 2024, shoppers can shop four products and get the cheapest item free of charge.. The offer includes seasonal favourites like Party Cheesy Stars (£2.50), Party Salt and Pepper Prawns (£2.50) and Party Sticky Chicken Skewers (£2.50).

As always – customers are advised to save some room for dessert. A crowd pleaser is the Tempting Trifle Gateau Bar (£3.50), with fluffy layers of sponge, a smooth cream mousse, strawberry sauce and a shower of coloured confetti sprinkles. Kids are set to love the Jingle the Reindeer Ice Cream (£2) – a chocolate and marshmallow ice cream, rippled with a chocolate sauce and topped with red sugar pearls.

www.asda.com